Metering boiler



July 16, 1929. H. c. HEATON 1,721,482

METERING BOILER Filed Nov. 17, 1924 :s sheets-sheet l July 1s, 1929. H. C. HEATON 1,121,482

IETERING BOILER Filed Nov. 17. 1924 3 Shoetsheet 2 `Iuly 16, 1929. H Q HEATON l 1,721,482

METER ING BOILER Filed Nov. 17, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented July 16, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERMAN C. HEATON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO YARNALL-WARING COM- PANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

METERING BOILER.

Application filed November 17, 1924. Serial No. 750,330.

or at an angle to these as may be preferred and using one or a number of weirs as suits the convenience.

A further purpose is to have the temperature of the water flowing over the weir essentially that of the steam within the boiler', thus avoiding errors and disturbances from rapid condensation of the steam upon the surface of the water above the weir.

A further purpose is to accomplish this equalization in temperature between the steam and the surface of the water above the weir by sending the incoming water through a considerable length of piping below the surface of the water within the boiler before discharging it into the wcir box. Much the same advantage may be gained by extending the weir chamber below the surface of the catch basin water in the boiler.

Further purposes will appear in the specification and in the claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a broken sectional elevation of a boiler drum equipped with one form of my invention.

Figure 2 is a broken sectional elevation of a boiler drum equipped with the second form of my invention. Y

Figure 3 is a broken sectional elevation of aboiler drum equipped with my invent-ion and provided with weirs at each end.

Figure l is a broken side elevation similar Vto Figure 3 of a modification used to obtain better equalization between the temperature the water within the wen' a. :l that of the .'i-team 'Within the boiler,

Figure 5 is an end elevation of -Figures 3 and 4L and illustrates the recording mechanism.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of Figure 3.

H Figure 7 is a sect-ion of Figure 3 upon line Figures 8 and 9, 10 and 11, and 12 and 13, are respectively transverse and longitudinal sections of drums equipped with modified forms of my invention and show multiple wen-s.

Figure 14 is a longitudinal section of still another modification.

In all the figures like numbers refer to like parts.

Describing the invention in illustration and not in limitation and referring to the drawings lVithin the boiler drum 15 I provide above the surface of the water a Weir box 16 having a baille 17 dividing the Weir box into an inlet chamber 18 and a weir chamber 19. At the end is a V-notch discharge weir 20. The water space of the boiler is used as the catch basin for the Weir. The inlet chamber 18 of the weir box is provided with a float 21 which by means of the link connection 22 positions the crank Q3, operatively connected to the pivot shaft 24. The shaft carries a lever having an operating arm 25 and a counterbalance arm 29 outside the boiler, one of them operating the mechanism of a recorder 26 by any suitable means, such as wire 27. The water level in the weir chamber and, therefore, by derivation from it, the flow of water over the Weir is shown at the recorder.

The bearing for the pivot shaft Q4 carrying the crank 23 is suitably packed to prevent leakage and is preferably so placed as to maintain the greater part of the arm 23 always above the water level within the Weir box, to avoid errors by reason of variation in buoyancy upon t-he arm supporting the float.

The float may be a cast iron disc or cylinder and is counterweighted by means of a weight 28 outside of the boiler and laterally adjustable on the arm 29, this arm 29 Conveniently. being an extension of the .same arm .4a as no operate the meerder.

The counterweiglit is adjusted until the cast iron float is partially submerged in the water within the lioat chamber, and the float rises and falls with the water level within the weir box, thus swinging the pivot shaft 24 and operating the mechanism of the recorder.

Counter-balance arm 29 carrying' the counterweight is preferably coplaiiai with a connection 3() rigid with the crank arm 23 and pivotally connected with the float, as this avoids any error from the change in the relative lengths of the arms of the float and its counterweight.

The feed water enters from a pipe 81 outside of the boiler through a pipe 32 within the boiler to the chamber 18 of the weir box under a baille 33, the purpose of this bailie being to avoid undue currents within the chamber.

In Figure 1 the section of piping between the chamber 18 and the pipe 31 outside of the boiler is shown as merely making directconnection between the pipe 31 andthe chaiiibei' 18. This forin'may be used whenever the water entering the boiler has a temperature neai'ly thatof the water already within the boiler, as by reason of having been preliininarily heated within a suitable economizer or other feed water heater to nearly the temperature corresponding with the intended steam pressure.

It is not well to deliver water into the weir box unless it is nearly of temperature corresponding to the intended steam pressure, both on account of the erroi' resulting from the addition of condensed steam within the weir box, and if in large volume, on account of the liuctuation in pressure which would,

result within the boiler. if a corresponding fairly large surface of water of materially lower temperature than that corresponding to the ,steam pressure were exposed to the steam within the steam space of the boilei'.

Cold water may be introduced with reasonable safety into a. boiler well below the surface of the water already there, the result of such introduction being` to lower the average temperature of the water already in the boiler without any material tendency towaid creating violent disturbances in the water within the boiler, such as exists when water throughout a boiler partially and suddenly flashes to steam.

On the other hand it is unwise to introduce relatively cold water directly into the ,steam space o-f the boiler as this may result in a sudden fall in steam pressure above the water in the boiler accompanied by iiashing to steam throughout the watei of the boiler which may cause violent disturbance and even will risk actual rupture of the boiler.

In Figure 2, as in Figure el, the length of the inlet pipe is artificially extended, either by inserting it through t-lie boiler casing at a considerable and unnecessary distance from the weir chamber, or using a connection with the weir chamber as part of the inlet or by looping the inlet within the water space of the boiler in order to make .sure that the temperature of the incoming water is approximately that of the wat-er in the boiler. In Figure Q I loop the inlet 32.

In the form shown in Figure 3 there is a weir box at eac-h end of the drum, the two boxes 1G and 16 respectively being connected by means of piping 34; of sufficient size to maintain substantially the same level in both boxes.

lVhere the level and temperature conditions are the same within both boxes but a single float and recording mechanism need be used, the V-notches of both boxes being adjusted to the same height. The inequality of the pipe lengths feeding the two weir chambers will make no difference when the feed water at the start is of temperature substantially corresponding to that of the steam within the boiler.

Separate recordersiiiay be used with any of the forms in which two weir boxes are shown,

In the form shown in Figure fi the form of Figure 3 is modified so that the water entering both of the weir boxes will have passed through the saine length of piping jacketed by water of the boiler thereby ensurin that the temperature of the water entering tlie weir boxes will in both boxes be substantially that of the water already in the boiler. rIlie T 35 is preferably located half way between the weir boxes 1b and 16 so that the length of hot water jacleted piping fed through the common inlet 322 shall be the same to both boxes.

VOne or both of the weir boxes are preferably provided with water gauge glasses 36 and suitable scales 37 to permit the boiler operator to see roughly at a glance the rate of water delivery into the boiler, the rate of delivery being indicated by the position of the water in the glass with reference to a Zero on the scale.

The piping 322 to the weirbox is provided with Ts 38 and these Ts and the openings of other piping as shown are closed by removable covers 39 giving easy access for cleaning purposes.

In the forms of Figures S and 9 the piping in which the feed water is preheated before entering the weir box and the inlet chamber 1S of the weir box of the preceding foi'ins are replaced by a compartment 40 along one side of the drum.

It is advantageous to have within the weir box only a small water-surface exposure to the steam and to have the water at its exposed surface as near as may be to full steam Vtemperature, to minimize condensation upon the water surface and pressure disturbances from such condensation. It is also advantageous CTI to have the conduit connection between the supply pipe 3l without the drum and the wen' box 1G submerged by the water Within the drum to prevent pressure fluctuations within the steam space by reason of any fluctuation of temperature of the feed water. Corresponding advantageous features are all possessed by the forms shown in these Figures 8, 9, l() and ll. Both of these two forms have multiple notches (discharging in three directions in Figures l0 and ll) and locate the float chamber outside of `the drum.

From a commercial standpoint it is desirable to increase the capacity of a weir by increasing the number of standard notches rather than by increasing the angularl size of a single notch, as this dispenses with the need for a multiplicity of careful calibrations. And it is also desirable to have the float chamber' a standard unit outside of the drum, in that the float is less afected by local waves and ripples and in that the manufacture and connections are adapted to exact standardization.

Because in Figures 8 and 9 one side of the compartment 40 is formed by the outer wall 4l of the drum, the compartment is not completely surrounded by the water of the drum, while in Figures 10 and ll the compartment 40 comprises a tubular shell submerged and completely surrounded by the Water of the drum. is an uptake 4l from an end of the compartment and in sectional area may be made as small as is consistent with non-interference with the normal relation between head and discharge over the weirs. Separate float chambers 42 are shown outside of the drum and are Connected with the weir chambers by pipes 43 and 44, respectively above and below the surface of the water.

In Figures l2 and 13 the weir chamber is located near the middle of the drum and partially submerged.

Figure la shows the weir chamber extending the length of the drum and wholly above the water of the drum, an arrangement giving some of the advantages of my invention and particularly adapted for use when conditions are such that the feed water entering the drum is already as hot as the steam within the drum.

I recognize that my invention does not require a particular type or kind of recording connection and will be satisfied by any connections, mechanical or magnetic, by which the variations in the position of the Heat may be communicated to the recording devices outside of the boiler.

In view of my invention and disclosure modifications and variations will doubtless become evident to others skilled in the art by which all or a part of the advantage of my invention may be secured without copying the forms shown, and it is my intention to In both cases the Weir chamber" include herein all such modications and variations in so far as they fall within the'reassonable spirit and scope of my invention.

Having` thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is z- 1. The combination of a boiler, a weir box and weir in the steam space thereof, using the water space of the boiler as a catch basin, means including a float, connecting said Weir box to a measuring device and a feed water inlet arranged to discharge into said Weir box.

2. 'Ihe combination of a boiler, a weir box and weir in the steam space thereof, using the water space of the boiler as a catch basin, means including a` float, connecting said Weir box to a measuring device, a feed water inlet arranged to discharge into said weir box and means within the boiler for substantially equalizing the temperature of the water entering the weir box with that already within the boiler.

3. The combination of a boiler, a Weir box and weir in the steam space thereof, using the water space of the boiler as a catch basin, means including a float connecting said Weir box to a measuring device and a feed water pipe supplying water to the weir box and having an artificially extended length lying beneath the water within the boiler.

4. The combination of a boiler. a Weir box and weir in the steam space thereof, a ioat and connections for measurement of flow therein and a feed water pipe to the weir box departing from the shortest connection with the exterior of the box to have a considerable portion of its length acketed by the water within the boiler.

5. The combination of a boiler, a Weir box therein, a weir, a catchl basin, a float and .connections for measurement of water therein, and a feed water pipe to the weir box havingl an artificially extended length within the catch basin in order to substantially equalize the temperature of the water entering the weir box with that of the water already in the catch basin.

6. The combination of a boiler, a weir box near each end thereof, using the water space of the boiler as a catch basin, a Weir in each box, means including a float, connecting one of the weir boxes with a measuring device, a conduit connection under the water of the boiler between the boxes discharging into the boxes, and a feed water connection to the conduit.

7 The combination of a boiler, a weir box near each end thereof, using the water space of the boiler as a catch basin, a Weir in each box having a predetermined relation between the flows over the weirs, a float and connections for measurement of water flowing from one of the boxes, a conduit connection under the Water of the boiler between the boxes and.

a feed Water connection to the conduit.

8. The combination of a boiler7 a Weir box neareaeh end thereof, using the Water space of the boiler as a catch basin, a Weir in each box 5 having a predetermined relation between the Hows over the Weirs7 a float and connections for measurement of Water flowing from one of the boxes, a Conduit connection between the boxes and under the surface of the Water of the boiler, and it feed Water Connection under the surface of the Water of the boiler into the conduit at approximately midway between the boxes.

HERMAN C. HEATON. 

